'Juvenile' attack downs PM, ACMA websites

 

Broadband minister's site takes collateral damage.

Web sites for the Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), fell victim to a DDoS attack last night.

A group of protesters calling themselves Anonymous apparently launched the attack to protest against the Government's proposed web filter, which the group describes as "Draconian internet censorship".

According to the AAP, both the Prime Minister's and the ACMA websites were offline for about an hour from 7.20pm. Communications Minister, Stephen Conroy's website was also attacked but remained accessible.

On his way into Parliament House this morning, Conroy reportedly described the attack as 'Juvenile'.

An ACMA spokesman told iTnews the incident was being investigated but had no further details.

The protest group yesterday posted a warning on the inquisitr website, claiming it was "declaring war on the Australian Government".

Last month, Anonymous posted a video on Youtube that described Rudd as a "tyrant" for attempting to censor the internet. "This is why we, Anonymous, have decided that this censorship plan should be among our primary targets for elimination," said a computer generated voice in the video.

The group was demanding the Government "abolish" its plan to filter the web and called for the resignation of Broadband Minister Conroy.


'Juvenile' attack downs PM, ACMA websites
"Yes, the Anonymous group (no relation!) probably are just childish amateurs. Their antics shouldn't distract us from the real issue, which is that politicians and their apparatchiks are lying ..."
By anonymous
 
 
 
Comments: 3
anonymous
Sep 10, 2009 6:45 PM
The DDoS attack on the Minister's website was juvenile, but not as much and not nearly as damaging as the effect of Conroy's Catastrophe will be.

It's not just that the very silly filter idea will never do what the government claims about protecting children, etc, but it will hand any government from now on the ability to apply political censorship to what the government secretly deems to be "inappropriate" content.
Maxxi
Sep 10, 2009 7:00 PM
As much as some people and groups are totally against the ISP filtering proposal, describing this as "draconian" filtering is pretty unrealistic. China has 30,000+ people monitoring everything they can on the internet and blocking large amounts of traffic. That is "draconian".

Our piffling list and very open freedoms of access are light years away from what they put up with.

Rudd a "tyrant"? Give us a break. Last timne I looked we had open and free elections, a senate, independant judiciary and people are allowed to criticise and insult Rudd every day with immunity, and do.

That is everything a tyrant never allows, and does not exist under a tyrant, otherwise he is not a tyrant...

This Anonymous is a grouping of self-important and bitter, childish amateurs looking to get their kicks out of causing others discomfort. The publicity they want is purely for themselves, they don't give two hoots about Australian freedoms and the folks campaigning against the filter. Zilch.

Always insightful to watch the mentality of groups that "declare war" on others, cos as we all know "war is good for absolutely nuthin'..."
anonymous
Sep 11, 2009 9:48 AM
Yes, the Anonymous group (no relation!) probably are just childish amateurs. Their antics shouldn't distract us from the real issue, which is that politicians and their apparatchiks are lying about the effect of what is being proposed.

Conroy's Catastrophe won't achieve the stated purpose of "saving the children", won't have any effect on the activities of filthy pedophiles because they will get around it, but will allow any government from now on to apply secret political censorship of anything the government considers inappropriate.

Would our secret banned list be draconian or piffling? We'll never know, because it's a secret!
Comments have been disabled for this article.
 
 
 
Top Stories
Vito Forte: A CIO for tough times
Fortescue Metals CIO talks vendor management and innovation.
 
Telstra shifts BigPond email to Windows Live
All data to be migrated to Microsoft cloud.
 
Vodafone Australia churn nears half a million for 2011
British joint owners 'not pleased'.
 
Sign up to receive iTnews email bulletins
   FOLLOW US...

Latest VideosSee all videos »

Latest Comments
Polls
Would you be concerned about your business' email data being hosted offshore?

   |   View results
Yes
  85%
 
No
  15%
TOTAL VOTES: 229

Vote